What you request to know

• Microsoft is wrestling with 3 large regulators implicit its effort to get Activision Blizzard. 
• As portion of the proceedings, Microsoft has revealed that Sony has acceptable up "exclusion" deals for third-party games connected PlayStation. 
• It seems that Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Final Fantasy 16, and Silent Hill 2 Remake volition ne'er deed Xbox, contempt the associated publishers' soundlessness connected the matter. 
• Microsoft besides listed From Software's Bloodborne arsenic an illustration of a third-party developed crippled that has been blocked from non-PlayStation platforms, which could connote that the oft-requested Windows PC larboard is retired of the question too. Sony has been friendlier towards PC successful caller years, though, truthful I'm keeping the hopium adjacent for this one. 

The play implicit the Activision Blizzard acquisition is heating up, arsenic Microsoft steps up its engagement of regulators. 

Yesterday, Microsoft published its effect to the United States FTC implicit its lawsuit, skewering its unusual presumption of wanting to support the marketplace person implicit consumers. Microsoft published a akin effect to the UK CMA arsenic good a mates of months agone and seemingly confirmed that what galore of america already expected was true. 

When Final Fantasy VII Remake was announced, it was revealed arsenic a timed exclusive, implicit with a countdown timer arsenic to however agelong it would stay exclusive to PlayStation. This led galore Xbox fans to expect FF7R would yet deed Microsoft's console, but alas, it simply hasn't been the case. It seems Square Enix's "timed exclusivity" periods pertain lone to the PC versions of their games, fixed that FF7R is present disposable connected Steam for Windows. 

In lawsuit you missed it (spotted by KoreaXboxNews), Microsoft confirmed arsenic overmuch successful its response to the UK regulator, claiming that Sony has acceptable up imperishable exclusion deals for games similar Bloodborne, Final Fantasy XVI, and the upcoming Silent Hill 2 remake. 

"In summation to having outright exclusive content, Sony has besides entered into arrangements with third-party publishers which necessitate the “exclusion” of Xbox from the acceptable of platforms these publishers tin administer their games on. Some salient examples of these agreements see Final Fantasy VII Remake (Square Enix), Bloodborne (From Software), the upcoming Final Fantasy XVI (Square Enix) and the precocious announced Silent Hill 2 remastered (Bloober team)."

While determination person been immoderate slivers of anticipation that Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 16 whitethorn yet deed Xbox, it seems this oft-overlooked transition from October's CMA filing whitethorn enactment the last nail successful the coffin. 

Final Fantasy 7 Remake is an fantabulous enactment RPG reimagining of the classical 90s JRPG, with infectious combat mechanics and dozens of hours of nostalgic exploration to partake in. Final Fantasy 16 is besides looking alternatively excellent, too, and Bloober Team's Silent Hill 2 Remake volition beryllium a fascinating project, fixed the franchise's legendary status. Xbox won't get immoderate of them, though, which arguably strengthens Microsoft's lawsuit with respect to exclusive content. 

Windows Central's take

Microsoft has engaged successful akin deals successful the past, though not truthful overmuch recently. Games similar Ryse and Sunset Overdrive from the Xbox One procreation could beryllium compared to Sony's woody for Bloodborne, for example. Microsoft mostly hasn't entered into third-party deals that afloat precluded competing platforms from franchises that antecedently existed connected rival platforms, though. Rise of the Tomb Raider was a little timed exclusive for Xbox, and Microsoft was skewered successful the wider games press for having dared to instrumentality specified a woody — thing Sony present does with impunity, to the disapproval of none. 

Microsoft acknowledged successful the aforesaid CMA little that exclusive strategies are not uncommon. At the extremity of the day, Sony is doing the close happening for its customers and shareholders, and Microsoft's admittance that games similar Elder Scrolls VI and Starfield volition beryllium afloat Xbox exclusive mirrors the value of exclusive content. Regulators wouldn't  (or astatine slightest shouldn't) reason that Netflix oregon Disney+ request to speech contented with each different for free. It would beryllium large if each contented was disposable connected 1 level for the involvement of convenience, but if determination was lone 1 level that existed, who knows however precocious prices would extremity up being set? Competition is what drives prices down, contention is what inspires innovation successful caller features, higher quality, and caller technology. 

For me, Sony's exclusivity deals conscionable correspond much grounds that Microsoft should beryllium allowed to prime up Activision Blizzard. For Microsoft to vie with Nintendo and Sony, it needs much of those big-name franchises nether its banner, and for consumers, getting them into Xbox Game Pass is the benignant of worth that lone contention tin deliver. Regulators' unusual pandering to the presumption quo is rather virtually harming contention — thing they are expected to foster.